Police said the victim had taken a small boat out into the water from the corner of Bayview Avenue and West 37th Street at 9:14 pm, and then decided to jump into the water for a swim.

But the current and undertow proved too strong for the victim, who fell under the surf after a brief struggle to stay afloat.

Rescuers brought the man to the shore, where he was pronounced dead.

Landlord shot

A 52-year-old Gravesend property owner died from a fatal gunshot wound to the leg on July 2 as he collected his rent money.

But police said that James Donovan, a resident of Lyndenhurst, wasn’t shot by a disgruntled tenant but rather someone he had an argument with outside an auto repair shop on West 3rd Street between Avenue Y and Cobeck Court.

Witnesses said that Donovan was arguing with the other man at 2:17 pm when the stranger pulled a gun and opened fire, hitting him in his upper left leg.

He was rushed to Lutheran Medical Center, but died from the seemingly non-fatal injury several hours later at 10:46 pm.

Boat bash

Bottles of champagne were turned into weapons on July 3 when a party on a boat berthed at Pier 8 off of Emmons Avenue descended into a bloody brawl.

Officials said the floating scrape began just after midnight when a 36-year-old partier began arguing with a bartender. After a fierce exchange of words, the guest threw a drink in the bartender’s face, followed by his fist.

As the crew tried to break up the ensuing fight, a 32-year-old woman punched another employee in the face. She then threatened to crack a bottle of Moet over the man’s head, police were told.

Both brawlers were taken into custody a short time later, charged with assault.

Road renegades

A father, son and a family friend worked together to beat the snot out of a motorist they nearly ran into on July 5.

Prosecutors said road rage was to blame for the 1:30 pm attack at the corner of 27th and Cropsey avenues.

The victim said that after he and his attackers nearly collided, the suspects — ages 61, 23, and 34 — ran up and attacked him, striking him with their fists and a large plank of wood. They also choked the victim and threatened him with a screwdriver, claiming that they wanted to “drop somebody.”

The victim suffered several bruises and scratches, but was not seriously harmed, officials said.

All three suspects were taken into custody, charged with assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon.

Busted in boardwalk rob

A 19-year-old was arrested last week in connection with a June 24 robbery on the Reigelmann Boardwalk near West 33rd Street, police from the 60th Precinct said.

The suspect was the second person arrested for the 5:30 pm mugging, where three males threw a lighter at their victim then beat him until he gave up his cell phone.

Cops said that the first suspect was arrested shortly after the heist. The third suspect remained at large.

Stabbed in arm

A tussle in a Bensonhurst apartment ended in bloodshed on July 3 when a 19-year-old stabbed the man he was arguing with in the arm.

Police said that the attack took place inside a 76th Street home, which is between 17th and New Utrecht avenues, at 9:30 pm. The victim needed 13 stitches to close the wound at a local hospital.

His attacker was taken into custody the next day, officials said.

More stabbings

Cops were called to a Sheepshead Bay apartment on June 29 where a woman allegedly stabbed her male roommate.

Police said that when they arrived at the home, which is between Avenues U and V, at 3:50 am, the 64-year-old man was bleeding from the shoulder.

He was rushed to Lutheran Medical Center, where doctors closed the wound with three staples.

The 56-year-old was taken into custody without incident, charged with assault.

Basement burgle

More than $6,000 and a gold chain depicting the Star of David was removed from an East 12th Street basement apartment on June 30.

Police said that someone picked the lock to the home, which is between avenues U and V, sometime after 11 pm, while the victim attended a late night birthday party.

Wipe out graffiti

As the ongoing war against graffiti vandalism continues, cops are now offering a $500 reward to anyone with information that can lead them to graffiti vandals.

The hefty reward is part of the city’s new push to rid New York of graffiti, which is one of the leading quality of life complaints brought to police.

Officials said that cleaning up graffiti is essential to the plan, to show that the community is no longer going to tolerate marred and tagged-up walls and street corners.

According to police, there is a perception that if a community will tolerate graffiti, they will tolerate other criminal activities, such as drug dealing and prostitution.

Anyone with information about graffiti vandalism in their neighborhood is urged to contact either 311 or 911.

Reasonable discourse

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